Paris-Roubaix 2026

Paris Roubaix 2026

Sunday 12th April

Compiègne > Roubaix (258.3km)

My hands were a bit sore after this one as was the saddle area! But other than that, I was alright.

*Ready for action. Photo © Luca Bettini / SCA / Cor Vos*

I was trying really hard to get in the early move because that was the plan. Get into the break if possible and then help John (DEGENKOLB) and Pavel (BITTNER) later on in the race once the big hitters would come across.

*Impressive crowds right in the action. Photo © Cycling Images*

The speed was fast, super fast and like I realised pretty early on that may not happen, but I still keep trying anyway.

But at 53kms/hr average for the first hour, it was looking fairly unlikely. And after that then it was just the case of being well positioned into each sector.

I had John (DEGENKOLB) and Pavel (BITTNER) with me into the first few sectors.

*On John's wheel. Photo © Cycling Images*

Now we weren't top 10 or top 15, but we were pretty close to the front. You didn't need to be directly at the front, which was good, until the Arenberg. Unfortunately we lost Pavel (BITTNER) one of the sectors when he came down.

*Space a premium. Photo © Luca Bettini / SCA / Cor Vos*

Then in the Arenberg I tried my best to help John (DEGENKOLB) out, but it was just quite difficult to stay together at that point.

*Recon run on Saturday with the lads. Photo © Vincent Kalut/PN/ Cor Vos 2026*

And after that, like we had done a recon on that sector and John (DEGENKOLB) had been saying to me that it was a really important part of the race. So I tried my best to be positioned there, but the legs just fell off.

*Some of the more sheltered parts of the route. Photo © Cycling Images*

Touching back on the same things I guess I had the last couple of races. I just don't have that level of repeatability at the moment. But it's coming back, which is good and the level's coming back too.

I did enjoy my first day out in Roubaix. I feel like I got on the velodrome and I wasn't very emotional, but I was hungry to come back for more

*Post race debrief. Photo © Dion Kerckhoffs / Cor Vos*

Next year with a clean run into this race, I really hope I could do something special for the team.

I do believe it's a good race that'll suit me in the future and I'm hungry to get back and do more. Now even talking about it makes me want to get back and actually perform. So yeah, I'm looking forward to.

*Tough but enjoyable day out for 1st Parix-Roubaix. Photo © Chris Auld*

Short term, looking forward to getting a good block in before the 'Summer Races', I guess you could call them, and getting ready for what's to come over the coming weeks.